Volunteer

Volunteers are our local heroes who show up to give back to our neighbors.

Volunteer

Volunteers are our local heroes who show up to give back to our neighbors.

Powered By You – 100K Strong

Houston Food Bank is an engine of hope, but it does not move without people. In 2026, we are calling on our city to build a volunteer workforce 100,000 strong. Whether you are a student, corporate leader, or neighbor… you are the fuel that keeps us running.

unique volunteers

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Shift
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Who Can Volunteer

Whether you prefer to fly solo or team up with friends, family, or coworkers, we welcome all. Join an existing volunteer group, create your own team, or participate in one of our special events. The most important thing is getting involved and making a difference in our community.

Individual

Sign up or login as a volunteer.
Once logged in, on the left menu, click on Shift Calendar.
Click on the date you are available.
View the shift time, details and location. You can also see how many spots are open.
Click Select to sign up for that shift.
At the top of the screen, that shift will be added to My Selections. Click on Register to selected shift to confirm.

Volunteer Groups

For groups with fewer than 29 people:

Register or log in as a volunteer.
Create a Volunteer Group:

1. From the left-hand menu, click My Profile and scroll down to the Groups I Am Leading section.
2. Click + Add Group on the right side.
3. Enter a name for your group.
4. Optionally, select an organization.
5. Click Create Group.

To see your new group, go to the left menu, click on Dashboard. Scroll down to Groups I Am Leading.

1. From the left menu, click Production, Direct Distribution, or Special Events.
2. Review the opportunities and click Register Now to view available shifts.
3. Select the date and time you want, then click Register as a Group.
4. Select your group and click Select.
5. You can either reserve spots for your group or add individuals.
6. Click Save.

For groups with more than 30 people:

Follow the steps above.
Contact us by email so we can finalize your registration.

More Volunteer Options

We offer community service, and welcome groups from families to social clubs and more.

Community Service

Want to devote more of your time and talents? Become a dedicated volunteer.

Apple Core

Student Heroes

Benefit Campaigns

From earning a scouting patch to joining a friendly competition among your peers, these volunteer events have something for everyone.

Hunger Fighter Patch Program for Scouts
Food from the Bar
Operation: Hunger Relief
Share Your Holiday Phone Bank
Volunteer Grants

Houston Food Bank

Volunteer projects vary based on need and may include inspecting/sorting food, repacking dry food into family-sized bags, and more!

North Branch

Located at 146 Knobcrest, is a 128,000 square-foot facility that handles all types of product (dry, refrigerated, frozen and items specific for disaster response). Volunteers will help build home delivery kits and disaster boxes. Individuals and small group volunteer (up to 10 people) opportunities available.

Trinity River Community Resource Center

Located at 1768 County Rd 3558 in Cleveland, TX, the Trinity River CRC offers neighbors access to a free neighbor-choice market. Volunteers are instrumental to Trinity River CRC’s operations, with shifts available for Tuesday through Saturday.

Keegan Kitchen

Keegan Kitchen volunteers assist with meal prep and packaging of hot meals for daily distribution to community locations where children gather after school.

Protein Pack Room

The Protein Pack Room is one of only 10 in food banks across the United States. This unique and highly essential volunteer opportunity greatly impacts our ability to distribute nutritious foods to our partners, ensuring our neighbors receive the protein they need.

Food Distribution

See first hand the impact of your service. Volunteers often assist by handing out food to neighbors at events or providing extra support during special situations. You can also help seniors by moving and loading food boxes into their cars at monthly distribution events held at community centers and other locations.

Enhance your volunteer Experience

535 Catering

We have full-service catering on-site. From breakfast trays to elegantly plated meals, let us level up your volunteer experience, conference or event.

Learn More

Texans Cafe

From savory snacks to hearty breakfast plates and flavorful cultural lunches, the Texans Cafe offers a wide variety to satisfy your appetite.

Breakfast Menu available Monday through Friday, 6am to 10am
Lunch Menu available Monday through Friday, 11am to 2pm
Self Service area is available all day

Starbucks

When you need a quick drink or treat, drop by our Starbucks counter to uplift your day.

Volunteer FAQ

All volunteers are required to complete the waiver form when registering online.

Adult Liability Waiver
Minor Liability Waiver

Where do I park?

If space permits, you may park in the front.
You may be directed to our overflow lot located behind the building.
For detailed instructions, go to Where to park and check-in.

How do I sign in?

If you registered online, please check in with a team member at the Welcome Desk.
If you did not register online, please sign the waiver at the left of the Welcome Desk.
You do not need to sign out.

Where do I go after I sign in?

Please explore our Advocacy Corner, learn about the impact of our volunteers, grab a snack or drink in our Texans Cafe or at our Starbucks counter.
When the shift begins, we will give a brief orientation and transition volunteers to the project areas.

For Your Safety

For the safety of our volunteers, visitors, staff, and neighbors, volunteers are required to meet certain eligibility requirements to attend shifts. Volunteers must be able to say yes to the statements below.
- I have never had, been a carrier of, or been in close contact recently with someone diagnosed with any of the following conditions: foodborne illness, Typhoid or Paratyphoid, Tuberculosis, or parasitic infections.
- I am not currently experiencing any of the following symptoms:
  - Diarrhea or vomiting
  - Skin infections or rashes
  - Discharge from the ears, eyes, gums, or mouth
  - Open cuts or wounds on the hands or forearms
  - Fever, chills, or loss of appetite
  - Recent contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19
- If you answered no to any of the above, we kindly ask that you postpone your visit for at least two weeks after your symptoms have fully resolved.
Please do not use your cell phone while in the warehouse. It is an active work area with forklifts and other heavy machinery.
Earbuds are not permitted because we want to ensure you can hear any safety instructions during the shift.
Jewelry, even small earrings, can be a safety concern as they can fall into food. It is best to leave all jewelry at home, or you may be asked to remove them before starting the volunteer shift.
Strollers and wagons can be a safety hazard in the work areas. Please leave these in your car or at home.
Anyone operating a pallet jack must wear steel-toe clips.

Where can I put my personal belongings?

Houston Food Bank has complimentary lockers behind our blue wall.
If you have issues with your locker, please visit our Welcome Desk.
Please leave your valuables at home.

Where can I eat?

Food that we sort, bag, and box in our project areas are for our partners and neighbors. Food consumption is only allowed in the lobby area and Community Rooms.
We have a water and ice tea station with cups available in the lobby. There are water fountains throughout the building.
We have snacks and hot meals for purchase at the Houston Texans Cafe specially prepared and cooked by our chefs.
No outside food is permitted. All proceeds from the Houston Texans Cafe and 535 Catering benefit Houston Food Bank.
Food, drink, and gum is not permitted in project areas.

Are the project areas climate-controlled?

Some of our project areas are climate-controlled.
Volunteers may be in parts of the warehouse that are not climate-controlled. It can be cold or hot depending on the weather outside.

Do I need to register to volunteer?

Yes. We ask each volunteer to register online, so we have a smoother check in process and volunteers can track their hours.

Can I come late or leave early?

To ensure that our operations run smoothly and that our volunteers are safe, please arrive on time for your scheduled shift and plan to stay for the duration of the shift.
Volunteers arriving more than 30 minutes late may be asked to reschedule, as missing safety and project instructions can impact volunteer safety and food quality for our neighbors..
If you have a last-minute schedule change, please contact us at 832-369-9390.
Cleanup is part of our volunteer shifts to ensure food safety, and we are prepared for the next shift of volunteers. Your participation in the cleanup is greatly appreciated.

What types of projects are available at Houston Food Bank?

Pantry Select
Inspect and sort food and non-food items that come to us from retail partners and individual donations to ensure they meet quality and food safety standards.
Scan a Can
Sift through items donated by Kroger stores to determine what we are able to keep to process through the Pantry Select project.
Backpack Buddy
Prepare sacks filled with nutritious food for children, identified by their teachers or counselors as chronically hungry, to take home for the weekend.
Senior Box
Pack boxes of nutritionally balanced food aimed at helping them stretch their grocery dollars while improving their health, nutrition, and overall well-being.
Bulk Repack
Scoop rice, beans, and other pantry staples from large containers into smaller bags for distribution to neighbors.
Produce Sort
Sort bulk quantities of produce and pack into bags for distribution to neighbors.
Protein Pack Room
USDA Clean room where bulk protein is broken down into family sized portions.

Why is a shift not displayed on the calendar?

There may not be a volunteer shift at the time, the shift may be full, or it may be too early for the shift to be published. Our calendar shows shifts three months in advance. If you would like to register for a shift more than three months in advance, please reach out to our Volunteer Engagement team at hfbvolunteer@houstonfoodbank.org.

Can I get proof of my volunteer time?

Have your proof of participation sheet from your school/job etc. filled out.
Drop off at the Welcome Desk BEFORE your shift.
You may request an official embossed HFB Hours Letter* from our Welcome Desk after your shift.
For hours verification questions or requests, please contact hfbvolunteer@houstonfoodbank.org

* If this is your only proof of volunteer hours, in order to verify those hours at a later date, the original letter may need to be assessed.

Can I take pictures?

Yes! We highly encourage you to capture your volunteer experience. Feel free to tag us on all social media platforms.
We recommend taking your large group photos either right before or at the conclusion of your visit.

What do volunteers do in the Keegan Kitchen?

Food preparation and packing
- Wash vegetables
- Cut, dice and chop vegetables
- Slice meat
- Package food for the freezer
- Occasionally assist the cooks in baking
- Count out milk cartons and snacks
Sanitizing
- Wash coolers and mobile warming units
- Clean work surfaces to keep the kitchen sanitary
- Wash dishes
Tray Line
- Scoop food into trays
- Run trays through a plastic sealing machine
- Inspect meals for quality and stack for transport

Code of Conduct

Volunteers are expected to follow this code of conduct to protect the interests and safety of all volunteers, staff, and the Houston Food Bank.

The following are examples of what is considered inappropriate conduct that could lead to dismissal:

Stealing, inappropriately removing, or possessing property belonging to the Houston Food Bank or any other organization, volunteer, staff member, agent, or visitor.
Volunteering under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs; or possessing, distributing, selling, transferring, or using alcohol or illicit drugs while on the premises of the Houston Food Bank.
Creating a disturbance on Houston Food Bank premises or at sponsored activities that could jeopardize the safety of others.
Violating the Houston Food Bank’s safety and health rules, or any federal, state, or local regulations.